continuing professional development

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f.a.q.s

• How do I know if I am "practicing" or "non-practicing"?

• What does it mean to be a non-practicing member?

• Can a non-practicing member serve as a Responsible Member for an APEGGA permit?

• If I am "non-practicing", can APEGGA still regulate what I do?

• Should I declare myself "non-practicing" if I'm temporarily unemployed or working outside of engineering, geology, or geophysics?

• I am practicing on a part-time basis and can’t meet the requirements of the CPD program, what should I do?

• Can I be “non-practicing” and supervise an EIT/MIT?  How about mentoring?

• What is involved in changing from "non-practicing" to "practicing”?

• I’m a Life Member, can I still practice?

CPD REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

• Who must comply with the CPD program?

• I’m an EIT/MIT.  So, I don’t need to report CPD hours?

• I’m a new member and my CPD Form shows zero hours for last year – why?

• As a practicing member, what exactly do I need to submit each year?

• I would like to enter or update my CPD hours online for previous years.

• I entered my hours online – how do I know that they have been received?

• I’m working in another province/state.  What should I do?

• I’m practicing in Alberta and elsewhere.  I already reported my hours to another province, why do I need to report them again to APEGGA?

• What happens if I don’t comply with the CPD program?

ACCEPTABLE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

• How do I know what activities classify as Professional Development Hours (PDHs) or whether a course/seminar I have taken qualify under the CPD Program.

• Who assesses whether the activities are acceptable?

• Are there minimum annual requirements?

• Who should pay the costs of training and development? The employee? The employer? Can APEGGA require the employer to pay all costs?

• Choosing activities from at least three categories is too demanding, given the nature of my practice.  What can I do?

• Why does community service count for Professional Development Hours (PDHs)?

OTHERS' CPD PROGRAMS

• What are other Professional Associations’ requirements for continuing professional development?

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PRACTICING VS. NON-PRACTICING

Q: How do I know if I am "practicing" or "non-practicing"?
A: Practicing is not considered as being limited to stamping professional documents; it includes all activities contained in the definitions of "practice" under the Engineering, Geological and Geophysical Professions (EGGP) Act, including acting as a Responsible Member for a Permit to Practice.  The Act contains broad definitions of the practice of engineering, geology and geophysics. These definitions are applicable to the majority of activities undertaken by APEGGA members ranging from purely technical to administrative and managerial.

In reviewing these definitions, if you believe that you are not actively practicing, you may consider declaring yourself as “non-practicing”.  This is accomplished by completing and returning the Non-Practicing Declaration.  As per the Regulations, this declaration must be renewed annually. 

Q: What does it mean to be a “non-practicing” member?
A: Non-practicing members are full professional members of APEGGA.  You retain all of the obligations, duties, and privileges (including the use of your professional designation) of professional membership.  However, you are exempt from CPD submission requirements and are not entitled to practice.

Q: Can a non-practicing member serve as a Responsible Member for an APEGGA permit?
A: No.  If you are a Responsible Member on a Permit and wish to remain so, you must be a practicing member.

Q: If I am "non-practicing", can APEGGA still regulate what I do?
A: Yes.  All members of APEGGA (practicing and non-practicing) are subject to the Code of Ethics and the Regulations.

Q: Should I declare myself “non-practicing” if I’m temporarily unemployed or working outside of engineering, geology, or geophysics?
A: If you are not employed in your profession (due to unemployment, parental or sick leave, going back to school), you can Request Special Consideration for your circumstances and get reduced CPD requirements.  Normally, members in these situations are expected to accumulate 30 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) annually.  Also note that the CPD program requires a total of 240 PDHs in a 3-year period.  If activities are lower in one year, often members can make up PDHs in subsequent years.  Refer to the CPD Program for further details.  If you believe that your break will be a longer duration, you may wish to declare yourself “non-practicing” using the Non-Practicing Declaration.

Q: I am practicing on a part-time basis and can’t meet the requirements of the CPD program, what should I do?
A: If you are not practicing full time (such as on a permanent part-time or semi-retirement basis), you might not able to meet the requirements of the CPD program as readily as those who are practicing full time.  If so, you can Request Special Consideration and get reduced CPD requirements. 

Q: Can I be “non-practicing” and supervise an EIT/MIT?  How about mentoring?
A: The Experience Requirements for Licensure discusses the obligations of the supervising professional member: “In addition, all plans, specifications, reports and documents of a professional nature prepared by members-in-training, examination candidates or students, must be reviewed by a professional member who assumes professional responsibility for the work.”  Therefore, if you are supervising an EIT/MIT and taking responsibility for his or her work, effectively you are practicing.  If you are acting as a mentor, then you are not taking professional responsibility for the EIT/MIT’s work, and do not need to be practicing.

Q: What is involved in changing from "non-practicing" to "practicing”?
A: If you wish to resume practice, you must apply to the Practice Review Board by submitting a Resumption Application.  You are not permitted to resume practicing until you receive permission to do so from the Practice Review Board.  The Practice Review Board may stipulate conditions prior to allowing you to resume practice.

Q: I’m a Life Member, can I still practice?
A: As defined in the Bylaws, those who became Life Members after 1991 must be retired from the practice of the professions.  When granting you Life Membership, the Registration Department requires that you complete a non-practicing declaration.  If you wish to resume practice, you must apply to the Practice Review Board by submitting a Resumption Application. 

CPD REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Q: Who must comply with the CPD program?
A: All practicing professional members must comply with the CPD program.  Applicants, exam candidates, students, MIT’s, and members who have submitted a Non-Practicing Declaration are all exempt. 

Q: I’m an EIT/MIT.  So, I don’t need to report CPD hours?
A: No.  You must report hours once you are a practicing professional member.  However, it is good to get into the habit of recording your professional development activities for your own personal records.

Q: I’m a new member and my CPD Form shows zero hours for last year – why?
A: CPD only records hours that have been earned once a person is a professional member.  Any hours earned before this time are not able to be claimed under the CPD program with APEGGA.

Q: As a practicing member, what exactly do I need to submit each year?
A: You only need to submit the CPD Annual Report Form.  However, for your own records, you should be keeping Detailed Annual Activity Records.  If you are audited, you may be specifically asked to submit them.

Q: I would like to enter or update my CPD hours online for previous years.
A: This is currently not possible to do online.  It can however be done by either submitting an updated copy of the CPD Annual Report Form, or by contacting our office.

Q: I entered my hours online – how do I know that they have been received?
A: Currently, if you require confirmation please contact our office either by phone or email.  We would be happy to give you a confirmation of your CPD reporting.  We are in the process of developing an automatic confirmation system.

Q: I’m working in another province/state.  What should I do?
A: If you work in another province or state you have two choices.  First, if you wish to retain your practicing status in Alberta, you must comply with APEGGA’s CPD program.  Note that Professional Practice hours obtained in another jurisdiction may be claimed on the APEGGA CPD report. 

If you are not practicing in Alberta, your second option is to declare yourself to be “non-practicing” in Alberta, thus exempting yourself from the CPD program.  If you continue to be licensed and practice in another jurisdiction, then your application to resume active practice with APEGGA is approved automatically.

Q: I’m practicing in Alberta and elsewhere.  I already reported my hours to another province, why do I need to report them again to APEGGA?
A: The provincial regulators of engineering, geology, and geophysics have differing Continuing Professional Development requirements.  Accordingly, you must ensure that you are complying with each jurisdiction’s requirements separately.

Q: What happens if I don’t comply with the CPD program?
A: The Practice Review Board may conduct a review of your practice if you fail to meet the requirements of the program.  If you fail to comply with a notice to produce your Detailed Annual Activity Records, you may be struck from the member register.

ACCEPTABLE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

Q: How do I know what activities classify as Professional Development Hours (PDHs) or whether a course/seminar I have taken qualify under the CPD Program.
A: Refer to section 3 of the CPD Program.  You may also contact the CPD coordinator, if you require further clarification.

Q: Who assesses whether the activities are acceptable?
A: Each individual practicing member is responsible for developing a CPD program based on his or her assessment of the required competencies or job skills.  APEGGA’s Practice Review Board carries out random audits of members to ensure compliance with the requirements.  Should practicing members be audited, they will need to provide documentation of their activities and demonstrate that their program is appropriate.  Non-practicing members may need to demonstrate they are indeed not practicing.

Q: Are there minimum annual requirements?
A: Annually, you must submit either a CPD Annual Report Form or a Non-Practicing Declaration.  If you are practicing, the CPD program requires that you obtain a total of 240 PDHs in 3 categories over a three year period.  To accomplish this, it is recommended that members obtain a minimum of 80 PDHs per year. 

Q: Who should pay the costs of training and development? The employee? The employer? Can APEGGA require the employer to pay all costs?
A: Many of the activities will not be an incremental cost to either employees or employers. The CPD Program gives members the flexibility to select various activities. The primary responsibility for a CPD Program and maintaining competence rests with the individual professional. APEGGA can only encourage employers to support the program. The employer has a role to play in professional development, and permit holders have an obligation to ensure that professionals in their employ are competent.

Q: Choosing activities from at least three categories is too demanding, given the nature of my practice.  What can I do?
A: The program identifies six categories to allow flexibility and to recognize the diversity of the membership.  Activities in three of the six categories are required so members obtain exposure to various forms of lifelong learning. 

Q: Why does community service count for Professional Development Hours (PDHs)?
A: Based on feedback receive from the membership, Council decided to allow community service to count for up to 10 PDHs each year in order to recognize the dedication many of our members have shown towards making their communities a better place to live and work. Further, community service improves one’s visibility in the community, broadens perspectives, and may lead to enhanced professional contacts and learning opportunities.

OTHERS' CPD PROGRAMS
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Q: What are other Professional Associations’ requirements for continuing professional development?
A: Several provincial engineering and geoscience regulatory associations have moved towards mandatory CPD programs.  The following summary, as of spring 2003, was prepared by the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers.

In Alberta, continuing professional development is also mandatory in other professions including those regulated by the Alberta Dental Association and College, the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta and the Alberta Association of Architects.  Non-compliance may result in their members' licenses or permits being suspended or revoked and, in some instances, a fee being assessed for late submissions.  The Law Society of Alberta is currently studying the matter of a mandatory professional development program for lawyers.